EU states miss energy climate plan deadline

Only four out of 27 EU states submitted their final national energy and climate plans (NECPs) by the end of June, as required by law — the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Sweden — according to the European Commission.

"We need a critical mass of plans to come in before we can look at the cumulative contribution [towards the 2030 energy and climate targets]," commission energy and climate spokesperson Tim McPhie said.

"I'm not going to get into sliding scales of whether we're more or less worried. We only have four [NECPs] and we're urging the member states that haven't submitted them to do so as soon as."

The commission in December assessed draft NECPs as only leading to a cut of 51pc in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. And the plans would lead to a renewable energy share in the energy mix of just 38.6-39.3pc by 2030, short of a binding target of 42.5pc.

The commission will raise the lack of energy and climate plans as a "matter of urgency" with energy and climate ministers at informal meetings later this month. And Austria, which has not even submitted a draft NECP, is facing a commission infringement procedure.

By Dafydd ab Iago